news&views Autumn 2016 | Page 22

FROM THE BRANCHES

FROM THE BRANCHES

SDRTA Presents ARTA Volunteer Awards

GARRY FIX

At its spring coffee party on June 8 , the Stettler and District Retired Teachers ’ Association ( SDRTA ) presented ARTA volunteer awards to two deserving Stettler area SDRTA members .

Evelyn Shursen honours her Estonian roots by taking an active role in Estonian culture activities in the Linda Hall community , south of Stettler , where she was born , raised and still lives .
Evelyn has enthusiastically shared her musical talents all her life . Besides teaching choral singing in her music classes , Evelyn has sung at countless events in the area . As well , she has conducted choirs including the Sure Singers , the United Church Choir and Modern Maestros . Evelyn also participated in many productions of the Stettler Gilbert and Sullivan Society and helps to organize the Stettler Christmas Carol Festival .
President Jim Forde , Evelyn Shursen , VP Neil Pinder
An active member of the P & H Elevator Preservation Society in Stettler , Evelyn is also an avid gardener and member of the David Thompson Orchid Society . She has served as social convener for both SDRTA and the Legion in Stettler . Lately she has volunteered as a greeter at Stettler ’ s Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions .
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To reinforce her beliefs in small government , Evelyn volunteers regularly for the local Wildrose Party . Evelyn declares that as long as her health permits it , she intends to keep volunteering for worthwhile causes .
Grace Fix ’ s volunteer work started soon after she retired from teaching when she saw a notice from the Stettler Waste Management Authority asking for a volunteer recycling member to serve on its board . That notice began a series of actions that would lead to better ways to reuse , recycle and responsibly dispose of items .
First , Grace spearheaded a move that had all County of Stettler transfer stations accept recyclable goods .
Grace then instituted a toxic recycling centre at the Town of Stettler Transfer station that is open to all town and county citizens .
Next , Grace set up ten sites where people can dispose of any type of battery except car batteries . In two-and-a-half years Grace has boxed and recycled 2.5 tonnes of batteries .
Grace arranged for a $ 7000 grant from the TD Friends of the Environment fund that resulted in the purchase of a fluorescent bulb-eating machine . Mercury from the bulbs is captured and sent to the Swan Hills waste treatment plant and the crushed glass is recycled . In two years 11 000 bulbs have been recycled .
Another grant resulted in the new Take It or Leave It building at the transfer site where anyone can drop off unused items , and anyone can take them for their own use .
Grace is in charge of the environmental action side of the Communities in Bloom program with goals of raising awareness about environmental issues , such as the ' bring your own bag ' to the grocery store program implemented three years ago .
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